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Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), a tumor treatment modality with high tissue penetration and low side effects, is able to selectively kill tumor cells by producing cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) with ultrasound‐triggered sonosensitizers. N‐type inorganic semiconductor TiO2 has low ROS quantum yields under ultrasound irradiation and inadequate anti‐tumor activity. Herein, by using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create a heterojunction between porous TiO2 and CoOx, the sonodynamic therapy efficiency of TiO2 can be improved. Compared to conventional techniques, the high controllability of ALD allows for the delicate loading of CoOx nanoparticles into TiO2 pores, resulting in the precise tuning of the interfaces and energy band structures and ultimately optimal SDT properties. In addition, CoOx exhibits a cascade of H2O2→O2→·O2− in response to the tumor microenvironment, which not only mitigates hypoxia during the SDT process, but also contributes to the effect of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Correspondingly, the synergistic CDT/SDT treatment is successful in inhibiting tumor growth. Thus, ALD provides new avenues for catalytic tumor therapy and other pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of nanoparticles capable of inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation has become an important strategy for cancer therapy. Simultaneously, the preparation of multifunctional nanoparticles that respond to the tumor microenvironment is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. In this study, we designed a Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) core coated with Manganese dioxide (MnO2), which possessed a good photothermal effect and could produce Fenton-like Mn2+ in response to highly expressed glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment, thereby generating a chemodynamic therapy (CDT). The nanoparticles were further modified with Methoxypoly(Ethylene Glycol) 2000 (mPEG-NH2) to improve their biocompatibility, resulting in the formation of MoS2@MnO2-PEG. These nanoparticles were shown to possess significant Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging capabilities, making them useful in tumor diagnosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the antitumor ability of MoS2@MnO2-PEG, with a significant killing effect on tumor cells under combined treatment. These nanoparticles hold great potential for CDT/photothermal therapy (PTT) combined antitumor therapy and could be further explored in biomedical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella enterica is one of the most common bacterial pathogens in humans and animals. Systematic studies on the trends and geographical distribution of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella and dominant serovars have been well studied in European and American countries while not in China. Here, taking the One-Health strategy, we used >35 000  Salmonella enterica isolates to explore the temporal and spatial dynamics of dominant serovars in China. We found that Salmonella Typhimurium was the dominant serovar causing human infection in China, which was consistent with Australia but inconsistent with North American and European countries. The proportion of Salmonella serovars Typhimurium, London, Rissen, Corvallis, Meleagridis, Kentucky, and Goldcoast showed an increasing trend during 2006–2019. We randomly selected 1962 isolates for comparative genomics and antimicrobial resistance studies and found that the number of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) per isolate increased 1.84 and 2.69 times of human and non-human origins, respectively, spanning 14 years. The proportion of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella isolates had an increasing trend during 2006–2019, especially beta-lactam, quinolone, tetracycline, and rifampicin resistance. Moreover, we found that higher diversity of sequence types (STs) in S. Typhimurium than in other serovars, ST34 from pig and ST19 from chicken origin, were mainly associated with isolates causing child and adult gastro-infection, respectively. Our results fill in the data gap on the trends of dominant serovars and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica in China. These data provide useful information for public health decision-makers prioritizing interventions for foodborne diseases and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mutations in the basic core promoter (BCP) and its adjacent precore (preC) region in HBV genome are common in chronic hepatitis B patients. However, the patterns of mutation combinations in these two regions during chronic infection are less understood. This study focused on single base mutations in BCP and preC region and the multi-mutation patterns observed in chronic HBV infection patients. Methods Total 192 blood samples of chronic HBV infection patients were included. Direct PCR sequencing on the target region of HBV genome was successfully conducted in 157 samples. The rest 35 samples were analyzed by clone sequencing. Only the nucleotide substitutions with their frequencies no less than 10% were included in multi-mutation analysis with the exception for the polymorphic sites between genotypes B and C. Results Five high frequency mutations (≥10%) were found in BCP and preC region. Thirteen types of multi-mutations in one fragment were observed, among which 3 types were common combinations (≥5%). The top three multi-mutations were A1762T/G1764A (36%), A1762T/G1764A/G1896A (11%) and T1753(A/C)/A1762T/G1764A/G1896A (8%). Patients with multi-mutations in viral genomes (≥3) were more likely to have liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.6-6.0, P = 0.001). G1896A mutation seemed to be involved in liver disease progression independent of the patient age (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.5-8.6; P = 0.004). In addition, patients with more viral mutations detected (≥3) were more likely to be HBeAg negative (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-6.4; P = 0.027). Moreover, G1776A mutation was shown to contribute to HBeAg negativity in our study (OR = 8.6, 95% CI: 1.2-44.9; P = 0.01). Conclusions Patients with advanced liver diseases and with HBeAg negativity more likely have multi-mutations in HBV genomes but with different mutation combination patterns. G1896A mutation appears to be independent of infection history.

A series of novel monodisperse, well-defined molecules with a pyridine core and carbazole arms were synthesized by simple procedures with Iodo-reaction and . Their structures were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elementary analysis. Moreover, the fluorescence spectra showed that these compounds exhibited strong fluorescence with the maximum wavelengths ranging from 373 to 385 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), a tumor treatment modality with high tissue penetration and low side effects, is able to selectively kill tumor cells by producing cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) with ultrasound-triggered sonosensitizers. N-type inorganic semiconductor TiO 2 has low ROS quantum yields under ultrasound irradiation and inadequate anti-tumor activity. Herein, by using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create a heterojunction between porous TiO 2 and CoO x , the sonodynamic therapy efficiency of TiO 2 can be improved. Compared to conventional techniques, the high controllability of ALD allows for the delicate loading of CoO x nanoparticles into TiO 2 pores, resulting in the precise tuning of the interfaces and energy band structures and ultimately optimal SDT properties. In addition, CoO x exhibits a cascade of H 2 O 2 →O 2 →·O 2 - in response to the tumor microenvironment, which not only mitigates hypoxia during the SDT process, but also contributes to the effect of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Correspondingly, the synergistic CDT/SDT treatment is successful in inhibiting tumor growth. Thus, ALD provides new avenues for catalytic tumor therapy and other pharmaceutical applications., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The potential host range of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been expanding alongside its evolution during the pandemic, with rabbits and hares being considered important potential hosts, supported by a report of rabbit sero-prevalence in nature. We measured the binding affinities of rabbit and hare angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and its variants and found that rabbit and hare ACE2s had broad variant tropism, with significantly enhanced affinities to Omicron BA.4/5 and its subsequent-emerged sub-variants (>10 fold). The structures of rabbit ACE2 complexed with either SARS-CoV-2 prototype (PT) or Omicron BA.4/5 spike (S) proteins were determined, thereby unveiling the importance of rabbit ACE2 Q34 in RBD-interaction and elucidating the molecular basis of the enhanced binding with Omicron BA.4/5 RBD. These results address the highly enhanced risk of rabbits infecting SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants and the importance of constant surveillance.IMPORTANCEThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has swept the globe and caused immense health and economic damage. SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated a broad host range, indicating a high risk of interspecies transmission and adaptive mutation. Therefore, constant monitoring for potential hosts is of immense importance. In this study, we found that Omicron BA.4/5 and subsequent-emerged sub-variants exhibited enhanced binding to both rabbit and hare angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and we elucidated the structural mechanism of their recognition. From the structure, we found that Q34, a unique residue of rabbit ACE2 compared to other ACE2 orthologs, plays an important role in ACE2 recognition. These results address the probability of rabbits/hares being potential hosts of SARS-CoV-2 and broaden our knowledge regarding the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 interspecies transmission., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Salmonella enterica is one of the most common bacterial pathogens in humans and animals. Systematic studies on the trends and geographical distribution of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella and dominant serovars have been well studied in European and American countries while not in China. Here, taking the One-Health strategy, we used >35 000  Salmonella enterica isolates to explore the temporal and spatial dynamics of dominant serovars in China. We found that Salmonella Typhimurium was the dominant serovar causing human infection in China, which was consistent with Australia but inconsistent with North American and European countries. The proportion of Salmonella serovars Typhimurium, London, Rissen, Corvallis, Meleagridis, Kentucky, and Goldcoast showed an increasing trend during 2006-2019. We randomly selected 1962 isolates for comparative genomics and antimicrobial resistance studies and found that the number of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) per isolate increased 1.84 and 2.69 times of human and non-human origins, respectively, spanning 14 years. The proportion of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella isolates had an increasing trend during 2006-2019, especially beta-lactam, quinolone, tetracycline, and rifampicin resistance. Moreover, we found that higher diversity of sequence types (STs) in S . Typhimurium than in other serovars, ST34 from pig and ST19 from chicken origin, were mainly associated with isolates causing child and adult gastro-infection, respectively. Our results fill in the data gap on the trends of dominant serovars and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica in China. These data provide useful information for public health decision-makers prioritizing interventions for foodborne diseases and food safety., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.)